Notes from a dyslexic writer: How to let go of your fear of writing and become a tortured artist

Many people seem surprised when I tell them I’m a writer. Yes, I actually make a pretty decent living as a writer, and have done so for the past twenty years. Before that, I did a lot of writing as a university student and before that as an angst ridden teen with a diary.

Does it take me 10 times longer than a non-dyslexic person to writing something coherently? Yes!

Does it sometimes feel like torture trying to get the words out of my head? You bet!

But I believe this actually makes me a better writer.

The truth is: I write because of my dyslexia, not despite it.

Why do I write? Four things:

1. Words have power, but they have no power over me
Because reading did not come easy to me, I have spent my life wrestling words down on a page. Akin to Van Gogh’s quote above — I am not afraid of words or putting them together to create ideas. I never think “I can’t” when I try to write something. I know from experience that I can. Even if it almost sucks the life out of me some days.

2. I need to communicate
Being an undiagnosed and unsupported dyslexic for most of my life meant that I didn’t have a voice for a long time. Slow processing speed makes it harder for me to communicated verbally. You know those people who say the wrong thing at the wrong time? That’s me. But writing is something I can take my time with; and gives me control over how I communicate the thoughts in my head. Writing gives me a voice. It’s allowed me to tell my own story and stories I care about.

3. I want you to understand
I write communications products, such as websites, articles, reports. I get to communicate with Canadians on many things, important things, like new laws and programs that will affect their lives. It’s important to communicate complicated information clearly so that everyone reading it will understand — not just the lucky few. As a dyslexic writer, I’ve learned how to take complex information apart and put it back together. So I can understand it. So you can too. I guess it’s a calling of sorts.

4. It’s how my brain works
Writers and dyslexics have something in common: imagination and tenacity. I am crazy creative in my head. And I need to get it out. Writing is my outlet. I also work harder (and take longer) than most to get anything done — I know what it takes to get something done…revise, rewrite, repeat. Says John Irving of his dyslexia and writing: “It’s become an advantage. In writing a novel, it doesn’t hurt anybody to have to go slowly. It doesn’t hurt anyone as a writer to have to go over something again and again.”

Of course, I don’t do it alone. My best friend is the Canadian Oxford dictionary, a style guide, online spell check and Grammarly. I rely on professional editors and proofreaders to fix up my mistakes, make my work shine.

If writing scares you (dyslexic or not), my advice is to treat a blank page like Vincent van Gogh treated a blank canvas — with irreverence:

“Just slap something on it when you see a blank canvas staring at you with a sort of imbecility.”

Stop thinking of words as your master. They are your tool.

Let’s get started: Write a few lines, then a few paragraphs. Don’t worry about grammar and spelling at this stage. That comes later. Once you’ve got a first draft, reread and revise. Get a trusted friend to proofread it. Read and revise again. And again.

Congratulations! You are now a tortured artist. Welcome to the club.

Check my writing tips and resources for dyslexic writers, or anyone who needs help getting words on paper. C’mon. You can do it!

Welcome to the Dyslexic Library

A mother and daughter blogging about dyslexia in Ottawa, Canada. Honest book reviews, interviews, resources, and a few rants too. By sharing our journey with dyslexia, we hope to make yours just a little bit easier.